JAMMU, APRIL 16: Over 29.81 lakh voters will decide the fate of 24 candidates contesting for Srinagar and Udhampur Parliamentary seats, the polling for which is scheduled on April 18- the second Phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019.

The twin constituencies have 2,981,083 registered electors including 1,543,571 males, 1,416,387 females, 21,056 service voters (20,780 males and 276 females) and 69 transgender voters.

Twelve candidates each are in fray for both Srinagar and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies. For smooth conduct of polls, 4,426 polling stations have been set up in the twin constituencies.

SRINAGAR PC

The constituency is spread over 15 Assembly segments comprising three districts of Central Kashmir-Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam with 1,295,304 registered voters including 1,294,560 General voters and 744 service voters.

Among the general voters, 667,252 are males and 627,282 female electors. Among service voters, 728 are males and 16 females, while there are 26 transgender voters.

The authorities have set up 1716 polling stations across the Parliamentary constituency to facilitate the polling.

The candidates in the fray are Sheikh Khalid Jehangir of Bharatiya Janata Party, Aga Syed Mohsin of J&K Peoples Democratic Party, Abdul Rashid Ganie of J&K National Panthers Party, Dr Farooq Abdullah of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Showkat Hussain Khan of Janta Dal United, Abdul Khaliq Bhat of Shiv Sena, Irfan Raza Ansari of J&K People’’s Conference, Nazir Ahmad Lone of Rashtriya Jankranti Party, Nazir Ahmad Sofi of Manavadikar National Party, while Bilal Sultan, Sajjad Ahmad Dar, Abdul Rashid Banday are contesting as independent candidates.In 2017 By-Elections, the electoral strength in the constituency was 1,261,395.

The By-Elections witnessed the victory of National Conference’s Dr Farooq Abdullah by defeating his close rival Nazir Khan of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate by 10,766 votes. The seat was left vacant after Tariq Hamid Karra’s resignation.

UDHAMPUR PC

In Udhampur Parliamentary constituency, those in fray are Tilak Raj Bhagat of Bhujan Samaj Party, Dr. Jitendra Singh of Bhartiya Janata Party, Vikramaditya Singh of Indian National Congress, Harsh Dev Singh of JKNPP, Ch. Lal Singh of Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party, Mohammad Ayub of Navrang Congress Party, Meenakshi of Shiv Sena and Bansi Lal, Rakesh Mudgal, Shaber Ahmad, Garib Singh and Firdous Ahmed all independents.

The constituency is spread over 17 Assembly segments comprising six districts of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua.

The Udhampur parliamentary seat has 16, 85,779 electors of which 1,665,467 are registered as general voters and 20,312 as service voters.

Among the General voters, 876,319 are males and 789,105 females. The service voters include 20,052 males and 260 females, and 43 transgender electors.

For the smooth conduct of election in the PC, the Election Commission of India has established 2,710 polling stations.

In 2014 General Elections, the number of voters in the constituency was 14,69,072.

The last parliamentary election was won by Dr. Jitendra Singh of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) by defeating his nearest rival Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress. Singh secured 487,369 votes while Azad managed to bag 426,393 votes.

The polling will be held on April 18 in both the constituencies of the state. The voting hours have been fixed from 7AM to 6 PM.

Srinagar, Apr 16, : Deputy Mayor Srinagar Shiekh Mohammad Imran on Tuesday started ‘I am Mujahid’ campaign from Mujahid Manzil of Downtown in Srinagar. He appealed Islamic clerics in Kashmir to highlight the meaning of Jihad and Mujahid in upcoming Friday.

Beginning his campaign at historic Pather Masjid in Downtown, Imran said the meaning of Islamic terms has been interpreted in a wrong way but as a Muslims, we have a responsibility to act against it.

To start from Mujahid Manzil, Imran said the campaign reminds us of the sacrifices that were made by our people in the year 1931. He urged youth to come forward and make the campaign successful in the whole world.

“Apart from Indian states, I am getting calls from UK, USA, and other countries to start the campaign from there but we have started this initiative from Srinagar,” Imran said.

“To give a befitting reply to communal forces, the youth across the globe should use prefix Mujahid in front of their names. When lakhs of people in a single voice will raise the awareness about Islam it will help to counter Islam phobia in the world,” he said.

Imran said Muslims across the globe are being divided into different sects and divisions. He urged all Muslims across the world to use prefix Mujahid in front of their names and clear mis-confusion about Islam.

Srinagar, Apr 16, : Expressing shock over the assault of SDM Duroo, former IAS officer and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement chairman Shah Faesal on Tuesday hoped that AFSPA doesn’t come in the way of taking action against the erring army officer.

Faesal demanded an immediate First Information Report (FIR) against the erring officer.

“News of physical assault on SDM Duroo by Army is very shocking. If true, DC/SSP Anantnag should immediately register an FIR and arrest the erring personnel. It is hoped that AFSPA won’t come in the way of IPC/RPC and the action will be taken,” Faesal said in a tweet.

 Pertinently, the army allegedly manhandled a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and damaged his official vehicle after an argument with an Army officer in Ujroo area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district Anantnag.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani urged people for complete election boycott and shutdown on April 18 in poll bound areas of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal and said that on one hand ruthless killings, unabated arrest spree, economic strangulation, vechular restriction, enforced demographic changes through judicial onslaught is on its peak and on other hand a vast military exercise under the veil of election is being thrusted on this helpless nation just to endourse their brutal suppression.

He said that all pro-Indian parties and their leaders are least bothered abut the meseries of the people, they, instead, are desperate to get to the power corridors to continue sucking our blood.

We are passing through crucial period of our struggle, it is a litmus test for our conscious, morality and commitment to the movement just like we did during 2017 Parliament election in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts.

He said that we have invested mighty human material and every person, family and region has its own contribution which legalizes and compels the stakeholders not to let these precious sacrifices go waste.

Hurriyat chairman said that our occupier is not only brutal but cunning as well. Votes on basic necessities and daily needs are being portrayed as endorsement for their forced occupation.

He said that pro-Indian parties and its politicians are befooling the people with the promises, they themselves sold for their family gains. They are political vultures and greedy leeches who have always thrived on the blood and honour of this brutalized nation.

Pro-freedom leader said that all these old traitors and fresh entrants have a common goal to cement the oppressive bonds of India, in return of perks and privileges for themselves, otherwise it is known to everybody that they are the main architects of all our miseries. Shedding crocodile tears on 35-A, 370, AFSPA, PSA or riding a deceitful slogan of change, all of them sail in the same boat and have contributed in turning this paradise in hell.

Hurriyat chairman said that conscious nations always strive hard to safeguard the future of their coming generations and we have got the opportunity once again to prove it not only to the oppressor but to the whole world as well.

Delhi wants to turn Kashmir into open-air prison: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, Apr 16, : Days after the Srinagar Central Jail incident, family members of the inmates staged a protest on Tuesday saying Central Jail Srinagar is unsafe for those lodged there. 

   Scores of inmates assembled at Press Enclave Srinagar and said that inmates in the jail are feeling insecure. They demanded that the jail should not be turned into ‘Guantanamo’.

    Pertinently, violent protests broke out recently inside the high security central jail in Srinagar reportedly over some construction work at a barrack. Two inmates were reportedly injured and at least three barracks and a building suffered damages amid a number of “gas cylinder blasts” inside the jail following massive protests by prison inmates.

  The protesters were carrying placards seeking safety of inmates. They alleged that authorities are mulling to shift dozens of inmates to outside Kashmir jails. They said the shifting of inmates to outside jails is total violation of court verdict. “We demand the safety and security of inmates lodged in Central Jail Srinagar. Those police personnel should be punished who attacked prisoners in the jail,” they said.

   Reacting over the protest staged by these inmates, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and parliamentary candidate for Anantnag constituency Mehbooba Mufti said that government of India wants to turn Kashmir into an open-air prison and convert the jails into Guantanamo.

    “Prisoners are entitled to fundamental human rights & using brute force to quell protests is a clear violation. Pertinent to mention that inmates protested after alleged desecration of Quran. GoI wants to turn Kashmir into an open air prison & convert actual jails into Guantanamo,” Mehbooba tweeted. (CNS)